Vacation Placement Student Review

I definitely gained a greater insight into the working life of an international commercial law firm. I gained exposure to client work from the first day, worked on a variety of deals and was included wherever possible. Because of all this, I enjoyed myself. I felt valuable and wanted. It has confirmed my career aspirations.

The work I was doing was sent to clients on a regular basis. The tasks all fitted into the larger picture of the deal, and I was regularly given work in the same manner as other staff at meetings. Even the more mundane documents I prepared made me feel valuable when I was sat in a client meeting with a solicitor using them to guide the whole meeting.

I was given a buddy and supervisor during my placement who were my main distributors of work. They always briefed me on my task, sent me reference documents and directed me to the right places. They would give me direct feedback afterwards and show me where the document fitted into the larger picture. I was also sat down regularly to discuss my progress and what I wanted to achieve and how I was achieving it.

I gained more practical skills, such as drafting and researching skills. These will assist with diploma and my future career. My organisation and administrative skills have definitely improved and will assist me with my studies.

There was a timetable for the whole placement, including regular socials, practice presentations and lunches. The structure allowed for a lot of work place learning but with the right guidance.

The office was friendly, and it was nice being based within a team. Having your buddy and supervisor meant you always had someone to talk to. The atmosphere was professional with fun personalities.

The firm spent time training us in IT and Research. The most training and development was on the job training. Partners would sit down and explain the concept and fundamentals of the deal. A solicitor would then work with you on your task, giving you examples and fitting it back to the practical business needs of the deal. The support during your task and feedback afterwards meant you felt you had gained knowledge. The firm time wise, spent a lot of time investing in me. This time equates to personal development and training, so I felt that they wanted me to learn and gain experience rather than just watch.

I was treated like a trainee in the variety of tasks, substantive work content and expectations the firm had of me. I feel like coming back as a trainee would be very similar to being a placement student.

The placement being 3 weeks long gave me a real feel for the company culture. The presentations highlighted the culture, and being in the office showed you the practical implications. The opportunities to meet and network with other staff allowed me to understand the culture further.

I was treated just like a member of the team, being included in group meetings, email chains and client briefings. The work was varied, working on multiple tasks and projects at the same time. Because I felt like I worked there in the team and was valued, I could get a feel for working as a commercial lawyer. It has been really eye-opening in what the role is and how I fit into the role.

I was paid a very reasonable weekly salary which you receive after the placement.

There were weekly trainee socials, where you got to know trainee and NQ staff. There were also weekly lunches with partners and different staff members. The near daily practice presentations meant you got to meet people from all over the firm and different offices.

They were great. You got to meet lots of people, spend some social time with them and grow your personal network.

There were sporting events we were invited to participate in and there were office socials we attended.

If someone was considering a career in law, this is the best place to try. You get industry leading work, a great support network and the ability to really work like a trainee. It gives a very realistic impression of the firm and the role.